Psychopathological Characteristics of Rheumatologic Diseases

Rheumatologic patients reveal high prevalence of psychiatric disorders, especially depression and anxiety. SLE (systemic lupus erythematosis) and RA (rheumatoid arthritis) patients have characteristic features at dynamic psychopathologic level as regard self esteem, defensive functions and coping styles, also in relation to clinical variables (disease activity, pain, disease duration). This book highlights the great connection between rheumatologic diseases and psychiatry and sheds light on the importance of implication of psychiatric intervention in patients suffering from rheumatologic diseases.